Inclinometer



W. MARTIN. INGLINOMBTER (No Model.)

Patented Mar. 18,1890.

Ivo

1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE'.

' WILLIAM MARTIN, oE SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters lPatent No. 423,484, dated March-1S, 1890.

VApplication tiled November 13, 1889.v Serial No. 330,121., (No model.)

To all vwhom it Magnan/06PM@ Be it known that I, WILLIAM MARTIN, a citizen of Canada, and a resident of Salem, in' the county of Essex and State Aof Massachuset-ts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Inclinometers, of which the follow-v ing, taken` inl connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to'improvements in inclino'n'netersV for the purpose of measuring the inclination of iioors, walls, chimneys, or

. other objects or surfaces, and it is to be used in connection with a spirit-level, as will hereinafter be more fully shown and described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein- A Figure l represents a perspective view of a I spirit-level provided with my improved inclinometer. Fig. 2 representsavertical seotion of the inclinometer, showing it as attached to a spirit-level and in position -for use in measuring an inclined surface. Fig.

-3 represents a perspective view of the inclinometer, showing it as detached from the spirit-level; and Fig. '4 represents a side elevation of the inclinometer,. showing it as swung out of operative position relative to the spirit-level when not required for use.

Similar letters refer to similar parts wherever they occur on the different parts of the drawings. 4

In Figs. 1, 2, and 4, a represents a spiritlevel of any ordinary form or construction, which is provided with alcohol-filled glass tubes b and c, one at a right angle to the other, as is common .in devices of this kind.

` The inclinometer which Ihave constructed for use in connection with a spiritlevel consists of a 'metal rframe D, having attached to it or made in one piece with it a hollow cylindei` or tube d, u ithin which is arranged the longitudinally.- adjustable rod or spindle e, (shown in Fig. 2,)V which lis automatically forced downward by the influence of a spring f, surrounding said spindle between a collar, foot, or enlargement e at the lower end of said spindle and a liange or 'projection d in the tube d, as shown in Fig. 2. The spindle e may be adjusted up or down within said tube or guide d by means of a thumb-nut g, restingon the upper end of said tube (Z and havinga female screw-thread adapted toreceive the upper screw-threaded rod e, as shown in Fig. 2.

d is avert-ical slot on one side of the tube or guide d, through which projects loosely the index-pointer e3 on the Yrod e, as shown, said pointer serving to prevent" the rod e and also to indicate upon a graduated scale d3 on the tube or Vguide d the inclination to be ascertained or measured. f

Vhen the inclinometeris to be used, it is secured in a vertical positionY to one end of the spirit-level a, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2, and this is preferably done by means of a set screw D,*screwed through 011e of the sides of the frame D, as shown in Figs. l and 3, and against one side of the spirit-level." Theimproved inclinometer maybe used with any -ordinary wood-or metal spirit-level; but in practice and for the sake of convenience I prefer to construct the spirit-level in such a manner that the inclinometer is at all times connected to it, as is shown in Figs. l, 2, and 4. AFor this-purpose I remove or cut away a portion a from the end of the spirit-level ct, as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 1, leaving a reduced part a, to the end of which the framfe D of the inclinometer is permanently pivoted by means of a pin a3, going through slotted perforations d4 d4 in the'sides of the said in- `clinometenframe D, as :shown in Figs. l, 3, and 4. A hinged or removable cover 0.4 is connected to the level a, either by means of hinges orequivalent devices, as shown. The said cover, as well as the reduced part af, of the spirit-level is slightly hollowed out, so as to serve as a box or receptacle for the inclinometer when not needed for use, as shown inFig. 4 and in dotted lines in Fig. l. VAfter the inclinometer has been swung into the horizontal inoperative position shown in Fig. 4 the cover a4 is closed upon it and secured to the spiritdevel portion a by means of a suitable lock or fastening device a5, (shown in Fig. 2,) thus concealing from view the inclinometer and allowing the use of the spiritlevel for any ordinary purpose. When the inclinometer is to be used, the cover a4 is released, as shown in Figjl, the inclinometer is swung into a vertical position,'as shown vin end e kof the from being rotated as it is verticallyl adjusted,

IOO

end of it where the inclinometer is attached is gradually raised by t-he adjustment of the nut g, and consequent release of the spindle e,

until the bar a, is placed horizontally, when the amount or degree of inclination of the surface Qc can readily be ascertained by the position of the index-pointer es relative to the graduated scale` d3 on the tube or guided.

. Another manner of using the inclinometer isto nearlyunscrew the nut g from the rod e without detaching said parts from each other, causing the foot e" to be forced downward below the spirit-level a bythe influence ot'- the spring f. Inclinations maythen be measured by placing that endet thespiritlevel that is opposite to the' inclinorneter on.

. the other end of said spirit-level that is supscale 07,3 on the guide d. In this latter mau-V thehigher portion of the incline and pressing ported in the rod e downward against the inuence of the spring f until the bar a is -brought `to. a level position, Wheny the. degree of inclination of the surface to be measured can be read' off by the temporary position ofthe index-pointer relative to the graduated ner. of usingthe instrument the nut g only serves as a stop for preventing the rod e from dropping out'of thetube d.

The invention is useful for measuring or ascertaining the inclinations of surfaces toward the vertical or horizontal to 'equal advantage. .v

Having thus fully described the nature, construction, and operation of my invention,

I wish to secure by Letters Patent and claim-f 1. The inclinometer, as described, consisting of a frame and graduated tube or guide d secured to it, combined with a longitudinally-adjustable spring-pressed spindle car.- rying an index-pointer andan adjustable nut g, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.'

2.,' The inclinometer, as described, consisting of a spirit-level anda tube or guide d,

adapted to be secured to the same,`combined with the longitudinally adjustable springpressed spindle and index-pointer thereon,

and the adjustable regulating-nut, substantially as and fort-he purposeset. forth. l

3. The spirit-level all-and@ the hinged or removable cover a, described, combinedrwith the frame D, permanently pivot'ed or ccnnected to said spirit-level, the graduated tube or guide el, secured to said frame, andthe longitudinally adjustable index carrying spindle e and its regulating-nut g, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thefpresenceof two subscribing-witnesses, on this 9th-day of NovembeigA. D. 1889.

WILLIAMV rma-TIN.l

Vttiie'ssesz.` 4 I ALBAN ANDREM. KARL A. ANDREN.' 

